Anterior dorsal ventricular ridge in the lizard: Embryonic development

In lacertids the telencephalic vesicle starts its development at stage E = 30, at which time it is lined by a homogeneous nucleated zone in which particular ventricular zone territories or sulci cannot be distinguished. At stage E = 32 coinciding with the initial development of the anterior dorsal ventricular ridge (ADVR), one may distinguish the ventricular zone b in the dorsolateral wall of the ventricle adjacent to the sulcus lateralis. The ADVR continues growing by incorporation of cells produced in two proliferative zones (zone b and wall of the sulcus lateralis) and appears fully developed in postnatal lizards. Ultrastructural characteristics of young ADVR neurons between stages E-32 and E-33 are typical of those in immature cells. Beginning at stage E-34, some of these neurons appear to be degenerating (pycnotic). Thereafter, neurons of the ADVR develop abundant cytoplasmic organelles and the neuropile grows quickly. Myelination starts in the ADVR between stages E-38 and E-40, but is not observed in other striatal masses in the same period. Vascularization begins and is well developed at E-40. The first synaptic contacts were observed in embryos of stage E=38; they are chiefly axo-dendritic, although some are axo-somatic. Degenerating neurons were found in the ADVR up to hatching. From stage E-40 onward, the ADVR shows a greater and more rapid differentiation than all other striatal nuclei, including the ventral and amygdaloid complex.